Do you experience pain, tingling, numbness or weakness in your neck, shoulder arm or hand? The cause could be compression of a densely packed group of nerves and blood vessels known as the bracial plexus. The bracial plexus sits more or less underneath the collar bone. The bracial plexus is made up of nerves and blood vessels that primarily emanate from the neck. Many of the nerves, that make up the bracial plexus travel into the shoulder, the arm and the hand; therefore, compression of the plexus can cause pain, tingling, numbness or weakness in the shoulders, arms, and hands.

There are a variety of ways the nerves of the bracial plexus can be compressed.

1. Injuries that result from the bracial plexus being over stretched. Injuries such as these are considered to be stretch injuries.

2. Car, bicycle, motorcycle accidents and contact sports have the potential to injure the bracial plexus.

3. Swelling or bleeding in the area of the bracial plexus can result in compression of the nerves of the plexus.

4. The birth process can result in injury of the bracial plexus in the newborn.

5. Crutches that are placed under the armpit can cause injury to the plexus. The symptom(s) that result from this type of injury is called “crutch palsy”.

Chiropractors are trained to treat bracial plexus injuries. Chiropractic can help reduce the symptoms of a bracial plexus injury by relieving the compression of the nerves in the plexus. If you have symptoms of a bracial plexus injury, I would highly recommend you come see us a Tannenbaum Chiropractic in Ann Arbor or another chiropractor. To reach us at our Ann Arbor office please email us [email protected].